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Web 2.0 and Statistics A great opportunity or a serious threat? Presentation Ambassador Christopher F. Egan US Mission to the OECD Discussants Carolyn Ervin OECD Director for Financial and Enterprise Affairs Discussant Jason Alderman Director of Financial Education at Visa

Event Description:

The development of web 2.0 and other Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are creating a revolution in the way in which information is produced and shared among different interest groups and individuals. The success of Internet platforms where communities create information through interactions provides evidence that the well consolidated roles of producers and users of information are radically changing. Concepts like “collective intelligence”, “crowdsourcing” and “prosumers” are at the basis of successful initiatives.  
How are these trends affecting the statistical world? Can “official” data providers continue to play their role in just introducing new ICT tools without changing their business model, or do they need to deeply re-think their classical role of information providers to evolve towards something else? What kind of approach do data providers need to develop to contribute to the functioning of a modern democracy in the “information age”?  And how can communication strategies help in this respect?

In this seminar Prof. Enrico Giovannini, Chief Statistician of the OECD, will discuss these issues and present recent OECD experiences, including the OECD Factbook and its dynamic charts (see www.sourceoecd.org/factbook) and “Wikigender”, the first OECD wiki (see www.wikigender.org).

Biographies:

Enrico Giovannini has served as the Director of the Statistics Directorate and Chief Statistician of the OECD since 2001.  Mr. Giovannini has published and edited widely on applied econometrics, statistical analysis and national accounts.  He is an economist and Full Professor of economic statistics at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata.”  Under his leadership, in 2001 the OECD launched a new statistical strategy and reinforced its role in the international market of statistical information.  He currently serves on several committees of the United Nations, European Union and other international organizations.  Prior to joining the OECD, Mr. Giovannini was the Central Director for Economic Statistics on business and institutions at the Italian Statistical Institute (ISTAT).  He has also been a consultant on economic and econometric issues for the Ministry of Treasury and for the Italian Industrial Confederation, and is a member of a number of Italian and international committees.  Mr. Giovannini holds a degree in Economics from the University of Rome “La Sapienza.”

Jonathan Palmer, Chief Financial Officer at the International Monetary Fund, is responsible for the provision of ICT services and leadership in the application of technology to the mission of the Fund. Prior to joining the Fund in late 2006, Jonathan served as Deputy Australian Statistician with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) with responsibility for Corporate, HR, IT and a unit responsible for coordinating the development of Australia’s "National Data Network".  Jonathan's career has been largely devoted to the application of information technology in the field of official statistics. During his career of 27 years with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (including 3 years as CIO and Group Manager for Statistics New Zealand), Jonathan has served as the Australian representative on the Governing Board of the Statistical Institute for Asia Pacific, was a member of the Federal Government CIO Committee, and convener of the Federal Government CIO Working Group on Information Interoperability. A graduate of the University of Canberra, Jonathan is currently serving that institution as an Adjunct Professor with the School of Information Sciences and Engineering.